Roy McKay
Encyclopedia
Roy Alexander McKay was an aggressive left-handed baseball
pitcher born in London, Ontario
, Canada
, who signed with the Detroit Tigers
organization in 1952 after spending much of his youth at Labatt Park
, including a stint as batboy
for the Ontario Baseball Association champions, the 1945 London Majors
of the Intercounty Baseball League
.
In 1953 and 1955, McKay pitched in Douglas, Georgia
, United States
, and Idaho Falls, Idaho
, before returning to his hometown to play for the Intercounty League's London Majors where he was named the league's most valuable pitcher in 1957. In 1958, McKay's best Intercounty season as a hurler, he had a 2.79 ERA and topped the circuit in hitting batters with pitches at 16.
Off the field, McKay was a specifications writer at General Motors
Ltd., Diesel Division.
From 1982 until six months before his death due to a neck injury after falling on the front porch of his Waterloo Street home in June 1995, McKay was a coach with the London Majors, owned by McKay's longtime friend and protege, Arden Eddie
.
as of 1996) was officially renamed the Roy McKay Clubhouse (prior to a London Majors' game), with a commemorative boulder and plaque placed in front of the historic structure with the help of the London Majors, the Intercounty Baseball League and the Friends of Labatt Park
. A large portion of the game's proceeds were donated to the Canadian Spinal Research Organization.
See a photo of the Roy McKay Clubhouse at Labatt Park here.
Roy McKay's son, Alex, played for the London Majors at second base for many years in the 1980s and 1990s and also managed the team in 1996.
There is a Crimson King Maple Tree planted by the McKay family just inside the front gates of Labatt Park that is a memorial tree to Roy McKay (with a plaque at its base) and McKay's uniform (jersey #16) has been retired by the London Majors.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
pitcher born in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, who signed with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
organization in 1952 after spending much of his youth at Labatt Park
Labatt Park
Labatt Memorial Park is a baseball stadium near the forks of the Thames River in central London, Ontario, Canada. It is in size, has 5,200 seats and a natural grass field...
, including a stint as batboy
Batboy
A batboy is an individual who carries the baseball bats around to a baseball team. A batboy may also lay out the equipment and mud the baseballs to be used in the game.Mascots and batboys had both been part of baseball since the 1880s....
for the Ontario Baseball Association champions, the 1945 London Majors
London Majors
The London Majors are an independent, minor league baseball team of the, semi-pro, Intercounty Baseball League. The team was founded in 1925, and is based in London, Ontario...
of the Intercounty Baseball League
Intercounty Baseball League
The Intercounty Baseball League is a semi-professional baseball organization located in the Canadian province of Ontario. The league was formed in 1919....
.
In 1953 and 1955, McKay pitched in Douglas, Georgia
Douglas, Georgia
Douglas is a city in Coffee County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 11,589. Douglas is the county seat of Coffee County and the core city of the Douglas, Georgia Micropolitan Statistical Area which has a population of 48,708 as of the 2008 census...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and Idaho Falls, Idaho
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Idaho Falls is a city in and the county seat of Bonneville County, Idaho, United States, and the largest city in Eastern Idaho. As of the 2010 census, the population of Idaho Falls was 56,813, with a metro population of 130,374....
, before returning to his hometown to play for the Intercounty League's London Majors where he was named the league's most valuable pitcher in 1957. In 1958, McKay's best Intercounty season as a hurler, he had a 2.79 ERA and topped the circuit in hitting batters with pitches at 16.
Off the field, McKay was a specifications writer at General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
Ltd., Diesel Division.
All-star manager
McKay managed London's senior Intercounty team from 1969-1972, 1974-1976 and 1981-1982, winning the Intercounty title in 1969 and 1975. The Majors also won the pennant race (atop the regular season standings) in 1964, 1965, 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1975. During McKay's years as manager, he was named an Intercounty League all-star four times—1970, 1975, 1976 and 1982.From 1982 until six months before his death due to a neck injury after falling on the front porch of his Waterloo Street home in June 1995, McKay was a coach with the London Majors, owned by McKay's longtime friend and protege, Arden Eddie
Arden Eddie
Arden Eddie is a former Iron Man player, team owner and manager in the Intercounty Baseball League. He holds several Intercounty records, including most games played , most bases on balls , most hits and most stolen bases .Off the field, Eddie is a realtor and home renovator...
.
Roy McKay Clubhouse
On August 1, 1996, the circa 1937 clubhouse of the London Majors (a City of London-owned designated heritage property under the Ontario Heritage ActOntario Heritage Act
The Ontario Heritage Act, first enacted on March 5, 1975, allows municipalities and the provincial government to designate individual properties and districts in the Province of Ontario, Canada, as being of cultural heritage value or interest....
as of 1996) was officially renamed the Roy McKay Clubhouse (prior to a London Majors' game), with a commemorative boulder and plaque placed in front of the historic structure with the help of the London Majors, the Intercounty Baseball League and the Friends of Labatt Park
Friends of Labatt Park
Friends of Labatt Park is a grassroots, non-profit group of volunteers dedicated to "promoting and enhancing Labatt Park in London, Ontario, Canada, as the world's oldest baseball grounds in continuous use in its original location since 1877."...
. A large portion of the game's proceeds were donated to the Canadian Spinal Research Organization.
See a photo of the Roy McKay Clubhouse at Labatt Park here.
Roy McKay's son, Alex, played for the London Majors at second base for many years in the 1980s and 1990s and also managed the team in 1996.
There is a Crimson King Maple Tree planted by the McKay family just inside the front gates of Labatt Park that is a memorial tree to Roy McKay (with a plaque at its base) and McKay's uniform (jersey #16) has been retired by the London Majors.